The Merciad September 22 issue

News .................... 2-5 Features .............. 6-9 A&E .................. 10-11 Opinion .......... 12-13 Sports.............. 14-15 Laker Living.......16 MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY

| W E D N E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 1

| VOL. 95 NO. 3

To reduce the spread of germs, please take this copy with you or recycle after reading.

Hurst Day reutrns for students PAGE 2

Online poll results

We asked: What was your

Photo Credits: Mercyhurst Marketing

favorite thing about Hurst Day? No class

6: World Language Department launches

Games

Conversation Assistance Programs

Scavenger hunt Steak dinner

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11: Cummings Art Gallery Reopens 14: Women’s volleyball wins first game in the newly renovated MAC

This week’s

POLL

Do you remember... the 21st night of September?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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NEWS

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Hurst Day makes its return

By Gillian Mazur Editor-in-chief

With an updated logo and a new president, Hurst Day once again returned for all Mercyhurst students on Sept. 13. One of the most looked-forward to traditions, the Mercyhurst community was finally able to come together again for a day of fun and festivities.

Hurst Day began in 2015 under the Presidency of Michael T. Victor and became such a cherished day that it looks like it will continue well beyond his time at the Hurst. The soon-to-be inducted President Getz welcomed the “Hurst Holiday” into her presi-

dency and chose the day to mingle and help host the day’s events.

A muggy Monday morning, students were awoken to the sound of bagpipes as the bagpipers marched all throughout campus with Luke the Laker. Starting with the raising of the Hurst Day flag in Old Main drive, they marched to and from all the freshmen residence halls as well as Duval and Ryan to wake up students for the day.

Costumed groups participating in the scavenger hunt once again filled the Mary Garden at 10 a.m. after an entire year without the beloved Hurst Day. With classic themes such as Scooby Doo’s gang to new and creative ones

such as Rock ’n Roll Bowlers, a record number of 140 groups of four sprinted all around campus to get through the three different rounds of the scavenger hunt.

The top three winners ranking from third to first, included: Monster’s Inc. Code 1926, The Jazzercisers and the Hurst Day Heroes.

Junior Music Therapy major, Kaitlyn Morris was a member of The Jazzercisers group and was able to place second. “I participated my freshman year but gave up after the first clue… this year I felt way more prepared after pledging for ambassadors, being a Laker Leader and having three RAs on my team,” said Morris.

Once the scavenger hunt was

Contributed photo

At 6 a.m. the bagpipers march around campus after the traditional flag-raising.

Contributed photo

The Wrecking Bowls team of four consisted of (from left) Tessa Korchak, Addie McCoy, Holly O’Donald, and Max King.

completed, all students were welcomed to join in on the Hurst Day festivities. Free Hurst Day shirts were handed out to students who did not participate in the morning scavenger hunt in front of the Student Union at noon.

From free food, music, giant inflatables and more, the heart of campus was filled with students, faculty, staff and even some children and dogs.

“The rest of my Hurst Day was fantastic,” said Morris, “my team and I were on the top of the world and went to go celebrate in proper fashion— with Parkhurst video game food and bumper cars.”

The festivities for the day finally concluded with Parkhurst’s steak

dinner at the Grotto Commons and Ryan Hall’s 501 Grille which began at 5 p.m. Although the dinner was not free, students with meal plans were able to swipe in or use cash to pay.

Despite the previous fact, the dining halls were filled with students all evening who came to enjoy the steak meal.

Even though students went without a Hurst Day last year, one can safely say that this year was a success. The spirit of Hurst Day filled all of campus with cheer and Laker pride.

Students can’t wait till Hurst Day arrives next year!

Contributed photo

Students enjoy “The Meltdown” inflatable ducking and dodging the bars.

Contributed photo

The Chick fil-A team included (from left) Ana Gonzalez, Emma Silverburg, Zach Heberlein, and Kira Lewis.

NEWS

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

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Campus Ministry hosts Dog Days

By Bella Lee

give treats and play with.

From Ares the Mastiff puppy to Teddy the black Labrador When one’s had a long Retriever, everyone’s serotonin week, they might automatically levels skyrocketed as they enlook for a way to make themself joyed time with these pooches. feel better. One could hang out “We’ve been hosting Dog with friends, take a long walk, Days for a handful of years or stuff their face with food. now, and there is always a great Fortunately, Campus Minis- response to it,” said Michelle try has another option up their Scully, Campus Minister and sleeve. On Sept. 16, for the first one of the organizers of Dog time in two years, the annual Days.

Dog Days event was hosted “We figured it was someonce again. thing that campus ministry On this special day, students could coordinate that would and staff bring in their dogs, big bring some joy to students’ and small, for students to pet, days,” said Scully.

Staff writer

Contributed photo

Lizzie and Joe Scully watch Ares the dog play.

Nearly every student on campus has at least one pet at home, whether it’s a cat, dog or something more obscure like a fish or gerbil. Dog Days was organized to help these students whenever they miss home or their pets.

“In the fall, after people have been on campus for a month, especially new students, we know some homesickness can begin to sink in, including people being homesick for their pets,” Scully said.

“We figured while this doesn’t replace seeing their own pets, it still is a wonderful way

Contributed photo

Sherman poses for the camera!

Contributed photo

Nala, named after the character from The Lion King, smiles wide.

to connect with some pups!”

Now comes the important question: will Dog Days happen in the spring as well? Since Dog Days generally occurs in the fall, this has piqued the interest of some students.

“We have done Dog Days in the Spring sometimes, it usually just depends on schedules of other events and if we can fit it in,” Scully said.

Anyone on campus who has a dog nearby, whether they live on campus as an emotional support dog or at home, is welcome to bring their pet.

“Anyone is welcome to bring

their dog (student, employee, neighbor) as long as the dog gets along well with people and other dogs, since there will be plenty of both of those,” Scully said.

This was the first time since before the pandemic that students were able to enjoy the company of a dog, since last year’s event was unable to occur due to COVID. If students ever go to the Counseling Center, they also have the opportunity to meet Bailey the therapy dog. Until then, hug your pets until the next event!

Contributed photo

Ares and Duke play.

Contributed photo

Junior Laura Kunz holds Ares.

Contributed photo

Sophomore Megan Kantz pets Saide the pug.

Staff Senate Treasurer nominations open

By Libby Bullinger Copy editor

In the upcoming weeks, the Mercyhurst Staff Senate will be holding elections to fill the position of Treasurer. Nominations opened on Sept. 7 and closed Sept. 21. Once nominations are counted and nominees are contacted, elections will take place.

The Staff Senate is automatically comprised of all staff members at Mercyhurst. Although it functions in ways similar to a union, it is not classified as such and members do not need to pay a fee.

The purpose of the Staff Senate is very similar to Mercyhurst Student Government, which is comprised of students from diverse areas across campus in order to represent the student body as a whole.

Both Mercyhurst Student Government and the Staff Senate are part of initiatives to ensure that Mercyhurst promotes shared governance, meaning that power rests in the hands of not just the upper administration, but all areas of campus including faculty, staff, and students.

Without these types of programs and leaders, there would be a lack of diverse voices in decision making for major issues at hand on our campus.

Just as it is important for the needs of students to be addressed through Mercyhurst Student Government, employees of Mercyhurst rely on the Staff Senate to express their opinions and advocate for their needs.

Karen Niemla, Reference and Technology Librarian and Parliamentarian and Chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee of

the Staff Senate, speaks about the importance of the Staff Senate.

To quote the bylaws, the senate “serves as a medium for addressing topics affecting staff in order to foster a better working environment.”

The Staff Senate is critical to ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of employees on campus.

Elections for the Staff Senate are typically held in the spring.

However, special elections are sometimes held to fill vacant seats throughout the semester. This semester, the senate is looking to fill the treasurer seat last held by Matt Sanfilippo.

There are five positions among the Staff Senate including the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Secretary, the Parliamentarian, and the Treasurer.

Each of these positions changes every two years so that there is

constant turnover and new voices in the senate. This is important because it allows new staff members to run for election and ensures that there is no longstanding hold over the positions by one individual.

For this particular election, anyone who qualifies as a staff member on campus was able to contact Niemla to make a nomination for the treasurer position.

“After nomination, I, as Parliamentarian and Chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee, will contact the nominee to confirm whether they are willing to run for election,” said Niemla.

Once elections occur and a treasurer is chosen, they will be responsible for the senate’s financial matters. Some of these duties include budgeting, fundraising, and maintaining transaction records for the Staff Senate financ-

es.

With a new President on campus, there are many areas of campus that are impacted, and the Staff Senate is no exception.

Niemla comments, “While President Victor will be missed, the arrival of President Getz represents an exciting new opportunity for new changes on campus in the future. We look forward to her upcoming visit to one of our Staff Senate meetings this semester.”

Getz is running her presidency under the premise of “Good Today, Better Tomorrow,” and the staff anticipates her incorporation of these standards into the mission of the Staff Senate.

Check in soon to see who was elected as the newest treasurer of Mercyhurst’s Staff Senate!

NEWS

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Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Nursing moves to Motherhouse Merciad IN A MINUTE

By Libby Bullinger

Study Abroad applications due Study Abroad application deadline approaching for Spring 2022 FSAT programs in Dungarvan, Ireland, Greece and Costa Rica.

Submit your application now if interested.

Visit Student HUBAcademics - Study Abroad for an application.

Email: studyabroad@ mercyhurst.edu

Presidential Inauguration Mercyhurst has already welcomed President Getz into its community, but she has not yet been inaugurated.

The inauguration will take place on Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

More information regarding the inauguration of President Getz can be found on the university website.

Street Food Festival at the Grotto Grotto Commons is hosting a Street Food Festival, which will take place on Sept. 30.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., so there will be plenty of time to stop by and get some traditional street food!

Lumen accepting submissions Mercyhurst’s literary journal, Lumen, is now accepting submissions.

You can submit up to three poems and two prose/short stories.

If you are interested in becoming an editor for Lumen, you can email Dr. Greg Brown, Emma Coppolo, or Ashley Carr.

Have a tip for Merciad in a Minute? Want to tell others about your club’s events?

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

Copy editor

Although COVID has delayed and canceled many anticipated renovations and changes at the university, the nursing program is happy to finally be making its official move to the Erie campus this upcoming January.

With the closing of the North East campus, nursing students needed their own area here in Erie to continue their studies.

In an attempt to find adequate space on the expanding main campus, Mercyhurst partnered with the Sister’s of Mercy Motherhouse in order to accommodate this program.

The nursing program will be moved to the Motherhouse, demonstrating the everlasting connection between the Sisters of Mercy and a Mercyhurst education.

Sister Lisa Mary McCartney mentioned that although there will eventually be some level of fi-

nancial compensation for sharing their space, the Sisters are genuinely invested in the education of students and the continuing of Catherine McAuley’s mission.

The Sisters eagerly anticipate this new program and the opportunities that their space will provide for nursing students in the years to come.

Construction is being done in a manner that fosters respect for the Sisters and their home while also making constant progress toward renovations that will make classes possible.

The program was supposed to be transitioned completely to the Erie campus this semester, but COVID caused a slight delay in the process. Despite all of the upheaval caused by the pandemic, the nursing program is anticipated to open on January 22, 2022, only a semester behind schedule.

Dr. Dyan Jones, Interim Dean of Zurn College, notes that construction is currently underway and on track to be opened accord-

ing to the new timeline.

The move to Erie campus will not impact the programming or requirements for the nursing degree, but it will provide nursing students with additional opportunities that were not formerly available to them.

Jones points out that nursing students will now have access to more amenities on the Erie campus such as a greater variety of REACH courses and more options to get involved in RSCOs. Candice Kiskadden, Interim Chair of the Department of Nursing, also mentioned that the move will create more opportunity for community both on and off campus. Nursing students will be in closer proximity to the healthcare settings where they work instead of having to travel from North East.

Kiskadden and Jones both explained that students are excited for these new opportunities and to be in a more centralized location.

“We’re excited our faculty and

administration are to finally make this move happen. The associate degree programs in Nursing – and in all the allied health disciplines – are truly valued, and we are delighted that the move will provide more direct opportunities for us to thrive together as one university,” said Jones.

Although some may be initially confused as to why the program is being placed into the Motherhouse, Kiskadden offers an excellent explanation. She brings up the point that many of the Sisters of Mercy worked in healthcare in their former years, meaning that they have relevant prior knowledge to share with the nursing students and some will even be coming in to speak in classes.

“In fact, if you think of the Mercy Mission and the original role that the Sisters of Mercy played in both health care and education, there may be no more appropriate program than Nursing to honor that space,” said Jones.

Homecoming Weekend approaching

By RayLynn Chraston Staff writer

Homecoming is approaching very fast Lakers. This year marks a first for a lot of things since the COVID-19 pandemic first began.

Sadly, last year Mercyhurst was unable to celebrate homecoming normally as in previous years due to being in the midst of the pandemic.

However, Mercyhurst is planning on getting back into the groove of things and is offering a lot activities as well as hosting many events during this Homecoming weekend.

To get further insight on this weekend, the Merciad got in contact with Lindsay Frank, the Director of Alumni Engagement here at Mercyhurst.

“Homecoming Weekend is one of our biggest events in which we welcome alumni back to Mercy-

hurst. I am personally so excited because this is the first on-campus alumni event that we have been able to host since February 2020, pre-COVID of course! We hosted many virtual events since the pandemic began but Zoom simply cannot take the place or recreate the feeling for alumni to drive through the gates and feel like [they’re] HOME again,” said Frank.

In regard to the alumni, Frank later discussed how the numbers for this Homecoming Weekend are looking very good. The large number of alumni coming could be because of how long it has been since they have been able to come back to campus as well as the excitement that everyone is feeling to be able to experience homecoming this year.

“This year, in addition to all of our usual events like the Homecoming Happy Hour and Alumni

Tailgate, we are also celebrating the 50th Anniversary Season of Mercyhurst Rowing, the 40th Anniversary Season of Mercyhurst Football, and the 20th Anniversary Season of Mercyhurst Water Polo,” said Frank.

The events for Homecoming Weekend begin Friday, Sept. 24 and will continue through Sunday, Sept. 26. Some of the events that you may want to join include a volleyball Game in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center at 7 p.m. on Friday, a Women in Sports Reception in the Mercyhurst Ice Center at 6 p.m. on Friday, the Homecoming Bonfire behind Old Main at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, the Football game at Saxon Stadium at 1 p.m. on Saturday, the Men’s Water Polo games at the Haggerty Family Events Center at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Catholic mass in the Christ the King Chapel at 10 a.m. on Sunday, and a field

hockey game at Saxon Stadium at noon on Sunday.

In addition to the events listened above, if you are interested in viewing the full schedule of events as well as seeing who is coming to the Homecoming Weekend, you can find further information by going to mercyhurst.edu/homecoming.

Lastly, it is important to know that Mercyhurst follows COVID-19 guidance from state and local health departments, as well as the CDC. Mercyhurst’s goal during this time is to keep everyone healthy and safe while accommodating our wants and needs.

Mercyhurst is excited to be celebrating this Homecoming Weekend this year and is looking forward to seeing all of the familiar faces back on campus. Make sure to take part in this Homecoming Weekend, Lakers, and have fun!

Pfizer may be approved for kids ages 5-11

By Bella Lee Staff writer

We have been able to receive vaccinations for COVID-19 for nearly a year now. The United States relies on Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to protect their citizens. There are also other vaccines around the world, such as AstraZeneca, that are being used to fight the pandemic.

Currently in the United States, vaccines are available for individuals 12 years of age and older.

However, that could change as early as next month.

As early as the end of October, the Pfizer shot could be approved for children between the ages

of 5 and 11. Some countries are already giving vaccines to their younger populations, with Cuba just beginning to administer them to children as young as 2, but this is a major milestone for the United States.

This decision is based on two months of rigorous research, as well as pressure nationwide to give vaccines to younger children in the wake of the Delta variant.

While the vaccines were only approved for those 12 and older at the end of May, it was July when the Delta variant began hitting the country hard, resulting in breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals being infected and younger, unvaccinated chil-

dren becoming sick.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said that Moderna will likely take about three weeks longer than Pfizer to collect and analyze its data on children aged 5-11. He estimated that a decision on Moderna could come around November.

Moderna said it has fully enrolled participants in a trial testing its shot in children between six and 11 years and that it was still conducting dose selection studies for younger age groups.

BioNTech, the German company that worked alongside Pfizer to develop the vaccine, stated that it also expects to request authorization globally for the COVID-19 vaccine in children as young as

five over the next few weeks.

For children between the ages of six months and two years, Pfizer has said it could have safety and immunogenicity data as early as October or November.

President Joe Biden and Fauci have both stated that they hope vaccines can be administered for individuals as young as six months by the end of the calendar year.

Due to vaccine hesitancy, over 99% of COVID deaths in the United States are from unvaccinated individuals, but hopefully the development of the vaccine for younger children can be the next step in ensuring safety for all.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

NEWS

PAGE 5

Mercyhurst ROTC hosts 9/11 memorial observance This weekend’s STUDENT GOVERNMENT

By Eva Mihelich

Contributing writer

On Sept. 11, Mercyhurst University ROTC organized an observance for the anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11.

With each year, less and less students coming into Mercyhurst University will have been alive on that day in 2001.

It is important that these memorial services continue in order to keep the national spirit alive that got the United States through such a dark time.

Fr. Jim Piszker, Mercyhurst University’s Chaplain, gave a brief but impactful speech at the observance, with the goal of expressing ‘sympathy and remembrance for those who lost their lives.’

“Think of it—those people went to work or went to the airport on a sunny September morning not knowing that it would be the last day of their lives. One cannot think of that and not be moved by it,” said Piszker.

When asked what message he wants to keep alive with each year passing after the tragedy, Piszker shared a beautiful sentiment that

is needed in our country.

“Our differences are never as large as our need to be united as a nation,” said Piszker.

He then reflected on the bittersweet reality that it sometimes takes a tragedy to remind a country just how important unity is.

Piszker shares that the most touching part of the service for him was the professionalism and demeanor of ROTC cadets as they raised the flag.

Bethany Jentz and Caroline Courtney, both sophomore ROTC cadets, were a part of this touching moment in the observance.

Jentz shared that a part of the observance that touched her was seeing the number of veterans there as she was holding the American flag.

“It made me feel honored to be a part of something, and to have them kind of pass the torch to someone who’s just going into the army now. It made me realize the weight of what we were doing, and what we’re doing it for,” Jentz said.

“9/11 is an event that drastically changed the USA, and so

many innocent lives were lost,” said Courtney, “we need to continue to honor all the people who lost their lives that day, and all the police officers and firefighters who climbed those stairs. It’s a huge inspiration for people going into the military now, and it’s extremely important to honor those lives.”

Jentz and Courtney both agree that Sept. 11, 2001 changed the entire course of the United States in terms of security, patriotism and motivations for joining the army or government forces.

Although it isn’t as difficult to talk about 9/11 with each year that passes, it is so important to honor those lives lost each year because this was an event that we still see the effects of today.

In a country that is so divided right now, the need for unity is beyond necessary.

The remembrance of 9/11 reminds Americans that no matter how divided the nation may appear at times, we are all in it together, and honoring the lives lost reminds us of the depth of this nation.

campus events

Zebras escape Maryland farm

By Abigail Eyler Staff writer

Zebras were found roaming the streets of Prince George County, Maryland after escaping a farm.

They roamed the neighborhood in search of food, water and a pool.

Local officials have tried to catch the zebras, to no avail as the zebras are too quick to catch.

Photos and videos of the zebras have been going viral on social media walking through backyards and on the local railroad tracks.

Though the area where the zebras escaped is rural, the zebras have approached local subdivisions, and have been spotted in playgrounds and backyards.

Paul Curling, a resident of Prince George County said he awoke to his daughter shouting, “There’s zebras in our backyard!”

While he thought it was a dream, he later saw the three zebras walking through his backyard playground set.

Many residents of local subdivisions had zebras in their backyards and were told to avoid interactions with the zebras and to contact animal control.

As the zebras are not domesticated, they can bite, kick

and will run with any human contact.

The zebras escaped from farmer Jerry Holly’s 300-acre farm, where Holly is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Holly, who is allowed to keep 39 zebras on the farm, had recently received the five zebras from Florida prior to their escape.

According to Chief Rodney Taylor of Animal Services in Prince George County, Animal Services has a plan to catch the zebras.

“We do have a feeding station set up, and we’re winning their confidence. They are eating there every morning between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.,” Taylor said.

He continues to elaborate that eventually Animal Services will add corral panels to eventually capture the zebras. Afterwards, they plan to tranquilize the zebras and return them to Holly’s farm.

Taylor also said that the feeding area was close to the farm, but due to concern that people will try to visit the zebras, the exact location will not be revealed.

Taylor said about spooking the animals in the feeding zone, “If you spook them, you’re just pushing them further out. And that’s when it can get dangerous,

they can get out on the highway, [and other] things can happen.”

As the zebras have entered residential communities prior to the set-up of the feeding station, Taylor’s concerns stem from how the zebras may act around cars, since they are not domesticated.

Taylor, when speaking about Holly’s farm, said that the farm has had exotic animals throughout the last fifteen years. During that time Animal Services has been called once for the escape of an unnamed animal species from the farm.

As of Sept. 19, the zebras have still been on the loose. Taylor said due to the zebras always being on the lookout for danger, they have been difficult to catch due to instincts to avoid predators in their native habitat.

Taylor said, “They have a powerful warning mechanism, so anything that looks different to them, they can pick it up very quickly... You’re not going to just walk up to them. They’re going to run - and they can run.”

The zebras are still the talk of the town, as many wonder about whether they have been caught and returned, as well as the process of catching them.

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG

Sept. 12: Unwanted Guest reported in Warde.

Sept. 12: Sexual assault reported in Ryan.

Sept. 19: Liquor Law Violation reported in Warde.

FEATURES

PAGE 6

NEW AT HURST

New Conversation Assistance Program brings cultures together

By Samantha Weber Managing editor

Contributed photo

By Bella Lee Staff writer

“Hurst is Home ‘’ is a phrase often used on campus.

Mercyhurst remains home for current and past students. This year we are fortunate to welcome back several alumni, especially from the class of 2020.

Of the many recent graduates that have returned back to campus this fall, this week we re-introduce the Mercyhurst community to recent graduate Tessa Sayre.

Sayre is the Public Services Manager at Hammermill Library. She’s in charge of overseeing the Circulation Desk and working with other library staff on special projects.

“I attended Mercyhurst University beginning in 2016,” she said. “At the time, my major was just Psychology. I went on to add a theatre minor that year and a Creative Writing major my junior year. I graduated in 2020 amidst the Covid-19 crisis and celebrated with a Netflix marathon,” she said.

Sayre’s experience with extracurriculars at Mercyhurst was extremely rewarding for her.

“As a student, I was most heavily involved in the Theatre Program,” Sayre said. “I found it incredibly rewarding to participate in the shows in any capacity— whether performing on stage, assisting the stage manager or running spotlight. I’ve not found such a wonderful group of people anywhere else, and many of the friends I made in the theatre program as a student I remain in contact with today. I also was a part of the English Honors Society (Sigma Tau Delta) and submitted work to the Lumen.”

It ended up being that very experience that drew her back to Mercyhurst. “I chose to come back to Mercyhurst because I was quickly growing tired of pursuing a life path that I did not enjoy,” Sayre said.

Overall, her experience as an employee rather than a student has been great.

“As a new staff member, I am most thankful for the community here at Mercyhurst,” Sayre said. “I’d been acquainted with the library staff as a student and when I returned as Public Services Manager they were all very welcoming and friendly. It’s nice to work on a team that collaborates so well together.”

Sayre is still just as involved in the Mercyhurst community, recently being cast in the Theatre Program’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Be sure to say hello to her if you see her at the library.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Mercyhurst has implemented a new Conversation Assistance Program for students. The department reached out to several international students who speak a primary language other than English. The International Student Office and the Department of World Languages partnered together to create this opportunity for students to take advantage of.

“We began offering this program as a way to expose our student’s authentic speech from native speakers of the target language. We also wanted them to have the opportunity to learn about culture firsthand from international students,” Sherez Mohamed, Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish, said.

The World Language Department sees the program as an opportunity for domestic and international students alike.

“We wanted international students to have the opportunity to share their language and culture with students, as the purpose of having international students on campus is not just for them to learn about US culture; but rather, it’s highly beneficial that we learn about where they come from

as well,” Mohamed said.

This program offers a variety of different activities that students can take advantage of including tutoring, conversation tables, and communicative classroom activities. Some courses might require students to attend a few of the conversion tables to better help students work on small speak in their language of study.

Mohamed sees great value in having an international student work with an American student.

“They can offer authentic cultural and conversation experiences to their counterparts from the US,” Mohamed said. “They can help develop the development of listening and speaking skills.”

Valentine Budin, a sophomore cyber security major, is from Paris, France, and her primary language is French. She was recruited by Douglas Boudreau, Ph.D. associate professor of French, to help other students who are learning French get to practice it in a more casual setting.

“I took the spot quickly because I was looking for this kind of job on campus,” Budin said. “Indeed, I wanted to share my culture and knowledge about my country.”

“I’m looking forward to is being able to help others expand their knowledge on more than one different dialogue of Spanish,”

Another member of the program, Yisela Reyes, said. “There is much more to get out of these programs than just helping other students improve their language skills. I also hope to educate foreign language learning students on different cultures and being able to cross-cultural connect.”

The program is also a way for students to make new friends.

“I wanted to meet new students,” Budin said. And there is no better way to do that than to meet people who speak a language not commonly spoken in the United States and bond over the language aspect that everyone has in common.

Mohamed hopes her students can get a lot out of this program.

“I hope all students make cross-cultural connections, expand their horizons, build friendships and of course I hope the US students develop their foreign language skills.”

The Conversation Assistance program is great for world language students to get involved in. To find out more information about the program or to get involved contact Dr. Sherez Mohamed at smohamed@mercyhurst.edu.

LAKER MOMENT On Sept. 14, the Starbucks kiosk located in the Mercyhurst bookstore held a promotion for anyone who bought a coffee. With the purchase of a drink, you received a free cream filled donut with chocolate frosting! The lovely Parkhurst staff worked diligently through their morning rush in order to get the caffeine-deprived MU students their coffee and complimentary donut. It was incredibly uplifting to see the surprise and made everyone’s day.

Sarah Beck photo

Parkhurst workers serving coffee and free doughnuts on Sept. 14

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

FEATURES

Page 7

Laker Side Hustles: Hearts and Crafts by Han

By Elphena Elsar Staff writer

Running a small business is not an easy task especially if the only employee you have is yourself. You are forced to play the role and do the tasks of every employee like financial management, planning and strategy, daily operations, sales and marketing, customer service, and more.

Now imagine being a college student with a major and a minor in two completely different fields of focus, which come with loads of classes along with great responsibilities plus maintaining a personal life, a family and other things.

Hannah Dragan, a junior dance major and fashion merchandising here at Mercyhurst owns and operates a crafting business. Her small business, ‘Hearts and Crafts

by Han’ is hosted on Etsy where she sells her handmade jewelry online. The store sells unique earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets from new and vintage beads and other materials.

Dragan’s products range from a variety of prices, but have a unique style. Her earrings range from $5 to $22 while the rest her products fall under a similar range.

Her style flourishes in her products. The earrings in particular, show an array of floral patterns and beading arrangements.

Dragan has a variety of patterns and styles that fit anyone’s interests and styles.

She currently has 70 items in her store and her page is very easy to sort through to find any and all of her products.

“I have always been a very crafty person and having a passion for making clothing, I decided I wanted to try making jewelry for myself and friends, too! I had so much free time over our long winter break last year and was inspired by jewelry I had seen and loved made by others online. After selling to many friends last semester, I worked on making an Etsy account over the summer to reach more people,” said Dragan.

As daunting as it sounds being a college student with great responsibilities like Dragan, her inspiration to keep going comes from making people happy with the crafts and fashion she creates.

“Creating new and unique pieces for others who love fashion makes me incredibly happy and it serves as a really great outlet

Contributed photo

A sample of a few of many products made and sold by Hearts and Crafts by Han.

for me to be creative!” said Dragan, “making jewelry has quickly become a hobby of mine and I can’t wait to grow my business and share my creations with more lovely people! I love playing a small part in making others happy and feel like their beautiful selves with my jewelry!”

If you are interested in checking out the unique jewelry made by Hannah, find her on Etsy.com, and search her online store name, “Hearts and Crafts by Han” then make sure to follow the Instagram page @ heartsandcraftsbyhan.

For any college student out there who is inspired by the work Hannah Dragan does or maybe you have interest in starting your own small business but you’re intimidated by the thought of it, here is what the amazing Hannah has to say: “Though college can be a very busy time

in our lives, I have found it to be important for me to find time to do things that I truly love.”

Beautifully said, but do not let the words be just words. Instead use the words as a driving tool that inspires and guides you in allowing yourself to be creative with the hope that the innovation will come to fruition. Remember to have fun while on your journey to self-discovery.

If you have a small business or know a friend who has one and want to have it featured in the newspaper, email merciad@ mercyhurst.edu or message @merciadmu on Instagram to have your business featured.

Alternatively, one can also email the curContributed photo rent Features section editor, Victoria McGinty, at vmcgin82@lakers.mercyhurst.edu Junior Dance major and owner of ‘Hearts and Crafts by Han,’ Hannah Dragan to be featured.

RSCO Feature: Fashion Council

By Abigail Eyler Staff writer

Are you interested in fashion? Do you enjoy meeting new people? How do you feel about new fashion trends? If one of these statements applies to you, come check out Mercyhurst’s Fashion Council.

The Fashion Council is a club that is run by the Fashion Department for majors and non-majors. It focuses on how fashion is an important part of society. As pop culture is reliant on trends, the fashion industry is majorly affected by the world. Fashion is used to convey social issues as clothing is able to relay messages. The fashion industry is also one of the largest industries with high-end brands, athletic brands and fast-fashion stores. Since trends start with high fashion and eventually go to fast-fashion brands, it is important to note how the industry relies on trend-setting, and how

fashion is a huge part of daily life. Fashion Council Co-President, Margaret Gonas, is a junior fashion merchandising major.

“Fashion council reflects society today because everyone within the club is different. Though most members are passionate about fashion, one can simply look around as see how different everyone’s personal styles are,” said Gonas.

The goal of the fashion club is to allow non-majors to connect with the fashion department. It’s also a great way to meet and see people in different classes as Gonas said that upperclassmen and underclassmen often do not have classes together making it difficult to meet members of the department and outside the department.

“We also love it when non-majors join the club so that we can connect with even more perspectives,” said Gonas.

The Fashion Council has several events planned for the Fall semester including a

sleepover party, plans to see House of Gucci, a Halloween Scavenger Hunt and a Christmas Party. The sleepover will consist of members showing up in their pajamas and playing sleepover games, trivia or a Kahoot and showing a movie. The games could include prizes. The Halloween Scavenger Hunt is similar to Hurst Day where there are teams of 3-4 competing, clues are spread around campus and there will be prizes for the best costumes and the winners of the scavenger hunt. The plans for House of Gucci currently consist of renting a movie theater, partnering with the Modern Cinema Club and rides would be provided for members who do not have a car. The Christmas Party, an annual event hosted by the Fashion Council, could consist of a gingerbread decorating contest, and members will probably be dressed in ugly sweaters or Christmas pajamas.

Other plans for the spring semester in-

clude a Galentine’s Day Party, St. Patrick’s Day event and an Easter event. The Galentine’s Day event will include a competition, pictures and candy. The St. Patrick’s Day event will include making a t-shirt that represents the spirit of the holiday. The Easter event may feature an egg hunt.

The Fashion Council meets twice a month and the next meeting will be during the week of Sept. 27.

“It [the meeting] will probably be that Thursday. We try to keep the meetings during the week, so people can go to them in case they go home on the weekends,” said Gonas. The general meeting includes competitions and allows club members to enjoy a positive environment where they can speak about fashion and socialize.

If interested you can DM @mercyhurstfashion on Instagram or you can email Gonas at mgonas95@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

FEATURES

PAGE 8

HURST CLASS CATALOG

Modern Cinema Club alumni travel to Toronto Film Festival

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Contributed photo

Christina Riley-Brown, Ph.D., American Literature course professor and Dean of the Hafenmaier College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Science

By Sarah Beck Staff writer

If you are interested in American Literature, historical context, as well as engaging in thoughtful conversation, the Seminar in American Literature taught by Christina Riley-Brown, Ph.D. might just be a class that you should take.

Riley-Brown is the Dean of the Hafenmaier College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. She has been teaching at Mercyhurst University for the past fifteen years teaching a few courses in pre-1865 American Literature that focus on the beginning of print culture, American literary culture, and southern literature.

American Literature is a 300 level class that is offered to all students although it is primarily taken by English majors. If you are an English major or minor, this class is certainly one to consider. American Literature is focused on specifically southern literature in the essence of southern writers and writing. Throughout the class you will analyze the geographic, historical, and racial complexity of the American south throughout history.

The bulk of the syllabus and exploration of the south is done through reading a variety of books such as William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury,” Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” Randall Kenan’s “Let The Dead Bury Their Dead,” and Jesmyn Ward’s “Sing Unburied Sing.” Intermixed with these pieces of literature, you will get the opportunity to listen to blues music to understand the idea of how the arts culture was shaped in the south.

According to Riley-Brown this class analyzes a lot of work that is known as “southern Gothic” which is a form of work that dwells on violence, the complications of history, and the suppression of the population in the south. This form of writing goes through the process to deconstruct the notion of the myth of the great old south.

In this American Literature Seminar course, you will engage in daily discussion to talk about the identity of the south through realistic conversations on social class, race, gender, religion, and how writers are often speaking to these topics even in today’s society.

“Within the southern Gothic you see a lot of these darker themes emerging but you also see a lot of humor as well. It’s themes are oftentimes about loss, repression, struggle but at the same time the music is beautiful, transcendent,” Riley-Brown said. “Sometimes it’s really joyful and has moments of great fun and hilarity, at times, really dark humor. That’s the way that southern literature is as well.”

One of the most impactful things about this class in American Literature is the perspective that you will receive.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Every year, the Modern Cinema Club has the opportunity to attend the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). While some things were different, this year was no exception.

“This is one of the best events we are involved with every year and we were glad to go back in 2021 in a limited capacity,” said Kristofer Gossett, DBA, Associate Dean of the Walker College of Business and advisor of the Modern Cinema Club.

Due to the pandemic, changes had to be made to ensure that the club could have the safest and most rewarding experience.

Gossett stated that normally the trip consists of a variety of Mercyhurst students and friends including current students, alumni, family/friends of alumni and a few faculty and staff members.

This year the TIFF trip was made up of 14 Mercyhurst alumni.

“This year we were not able to bring current students, so the trip actually consisted mostly of alumni of the Modern Cinema Club who have been coming on the trip since we started back in 2017,” Gossett said.

“Ken Henning and his wife (bus driver), a family with an alumnus flew in from Philadel-

phia to attend, eight other alumni came back and then myself.

In comparison, we had over 30 people go on the TIFF 2019 trip when we were able to take students as well,” said Gossett.

Additionally, everyone had to make sure they were safe to cross international borders.

“The planning to get everyone across the Canadian border was extensive,” Gossett said. “Every person had to be fully vaccinated prior to the trip and we all had to have a negative COVID-19 test result seventy-two hours or sooner from the time we crossed the border. Everyone also had to fill out the ArriveCan app with all of our COVID-19 history and documentation before we could cross.”

Despite the hardships to make the trip work, it was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

“The trip is a whirlwind for all of us,” Gossett said. “We arrived Friday around noon and immediately some of us (me) we already heading to movies.”

Attendees typically see somewhere between four and eight or nine movies between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening.

“We attended a TIFF Honors Press Conference which highlighted individuals who were receiving awards from the festival

this year. That included the likes of Dionne Warwick, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jessica Chastain, and director of Dune Denis Villeneuve. It was quite an experience,” Gossett said.

Most all the films watched were either world premiers or North American premiers of films that don’t come out to the public anywhere from a week or two to sometimes years.

The range of films is always expansive and gives attendees the ability to watch movies that they are interested in from filmmakers around the world.

“It was almost like COVID wasn’t happening. The favorite part of the trip for me every year is watching great films with other people from the group,” Gossett said.

The pandemic may have changed the landscape of the entertainment industry, but it did not weaken movie-lovers’ passion for film.

“Even standing in line waiting on films is fun as you are around people from all over the world who love film as much as I do,” Gossett said.

Hopefully next year current members of the Modern Cinema club will be able to have these experiences, but this year’s trip was a unique one for everyone involved.

Contributed photo

Actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Dionne Warwick spoke at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Honors Press Conference.

JOIN THE MERCIAD Do you like the content you are seeing in the Merciad? Would you like to help us out with articles or photographs and earn money for your work? We are still looking for writers and photographers!

Join our Teams page by emailing merciad@mercyhurst.edu to take part in our 7 p.m. Monday meetings.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

FEATURES

Leadership Workshop nomination forms now accepting applications

By Victoria McGinty Features editor

With the fall semester in full swing, the campus is lively once again after a long summer. While retuning students have settled into old routines, the incoming students are slowly settling into campus life.

Of the many exciting things occurring on campus, the Emerging Leaders Workshop is one of many.

Facilitated by Steph Przepiora, the newly instated Director of Campus Involvement, the workshop is set to occur in the near future.

The Emerging Leaders Workshop is an event where students are nominated by faculty, staff and other student leaders to participate.

While it is open to all years, the event is mostly targeted towards underclassmen, specifically freshman and sophomores. Students can be nominated by professors, facilitators and current Leadership Development Program students.

According to Przepiora, “We are asking for you to nominate any students that you know would benefit form an introductory leadership workshop.”

The nomination form is currently live and will be accepting nominations until Sept. 24.

The Workshop itself is run by students in the third level of the Leadership Development Program. The Leadership Development Program, or “LDP”

for short, is an organization on campus that is dedicated to identifying and improving student’s leaderships qualities. The goal of the program is to prepare students across all majors to exercise their leadership assets in the professional world.

“

We are asking you to nominate any students that you know who would benefit from an introductory leadership workshop.”

Steph Przepiora, Director of Campus Involvement

Both the Emerging Leaders Workshop and LDP go hand-inhand to encourage students to exercise their leadership traits and consider applying for LDP. In the past the Workshop has been successful and has hosted students across all majors and concentrations.

The workshop consists of a three-hour exploration of leader-

ship qualities and styles and how they make up qualities of a strong leader.

The workshops held in the past have been incredibly successful and perfectly demonstrate the diverse variety of student leaders we have on campus.

Students who have taken the workshop in the past have gone on to take on various leadership roles on campus such as an e-board position in a campus club or have even been apart of the Laker Leader organization or Student Government.

Sophomore Cyber Security major, Ethan Houk, has taken part in the Emerging Leaders Workshop in the past and deems his experience successful.

“I really did not know what to expect going into the experience.

I was thrilled to be nominated.

The workshop was a blast and I feel like I learned a ton about myself and how to become a successful leader,” said Houk.

Like many students who have taken part in the workshop, Houk went on to take on a leadership role on campus such as becoming an Ambassador and an RA in McAuley Hall.

Anyone interested in learning more about leadership opportunities either on campus or about the Leadership Development Program can contact Steph Przepiora at sprzepiora@mercyhurst.edu or stop in the Campus Involvement Department located on the second flood of the Student Union.

PAGE 9

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

By Victoria McGinty Features editor

Contributed photo

In this week in history.....

Historical Event: Sept. 15, 1978 Ali wins the world heavyweight championship for the third time-- which set an impossible record.

He fought against Leon Spinks. The fight was held at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

Following this victory, Ali retired from boxing.

Top 3 Songs This Week: According to Spotify’s Global Charts 1. STAY: the kid, LAROI, Justin Bieber 2.INDUSTRY BABY: Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow 3.THATS WHAT I WANT: Lil Nas X On the Charts This Week Fifty Years Ago: According to Billboards Charts 1. Take Care of my Baby: Bobby Vee 2.The Mountain’s High: Dick and DeeDee 3. Michae: The Highwaymen Top Grossing Films: This week: Cry macho Top Musical Artists This Week Male: Lil Nas X Female: Doja Cat Top Artist 20 years ago Male: Usher Female: Jennifer Lopez

Phi Eta Sigma plans an exciting year

By Gillian Mazur, Samantha Weber

Editor-in-chief, Managing editor

Nationwide, Phi Eta Sigma is one of the oldest and largest honor societies for first year college students. The Mercyhurst Chapter is one of the 386 chapters throughout the United States. 1,250,000 members are a part of PES throughout the United States since it began. PES was founded at the University of Illinois in March 22, 1923.

Within the past few years, the Mercyhurst Phi Eta Sigma (PES) Chapter was revived once again. Previous President, Ethan Wagner ’21, was one student who took on the challenge of transforming Mercyhurst’s PES Chapter with a new vision.

Part of the new vision of the rebooted PES Chapter at Mercyhurst was to get students more actively involved in service, academics and leadership. PES is now arguably one of the largest organizations on campus with around 400 members.

For students who remain an active member, by the time of graduation one can receive honor cords as well as Scholarships while at Mercyhurst.

More than $300,000 in scholarships are awarded annually to students through the national organization. Students are eligible to join PES at Mercyhurst if they retain a

Students pose for a photo during the 2019 Polar Plunge. From left to right (top row) Gianluca Ianiro, Victoria Riina, Rachel Ritz, Mary Claire Cousins, Morgan Patterson, Kenzie Grenell, (bottom row) Gillian Mazur, Laren Reesman.

3.5 GPA out of a 4.0 scale. Qualifying students are invited after their freshman year to join the honor society once the required GPA for the year is held.

In order to get one’s cords at graduation, one must remain an active member. At the end of each school year in April, one must

write a “letter of intent” explaining why the student in question should keep their “active” status. These letters are then reviewed by the board officers of the Mercyhurst chapter.

In addition, all members must attend at least one general meeting each year, one

offered in the fall and spring. Students also get the choice to demonstrate active participation in two out of three chosen areas which are service, leadership and academics. Two PES-sponsored events are held per each semester. One of the events sponsored by PES annually is the Erie Polar Plunge.

In order to get a scholarship through the organization, one must participate in local chapter activities through the community, evidence of creativity, potential success in one’s own field of study and have letters of recommendation.

PES is once again holding its campus clean-up events and Lake Erie Polar Plunge.

Junior HR major, Erin Sopher, is one of the members of the Mercyhurst PES chapter.

“My favorite thing about Phi Eta Sigma is being able to do different things and service on campus and out in the community.

I also love to meet new people through the organization,” said Sopher.

Senior Music Therapy major and PES Historian, Tori Altsman, said, “We are super excited to able to give back to the MU community through service again. We have a lot of new members eager to start serving and we look forward to being able to demonstrate the pillars of our society again.”

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Arte Hispano event kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month

By Ashley Barletta News Editor

Sept. 15 marked the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, and Mercyhurst has cause to celebrate.

The “Arte Hispano” event took place on Sept. 16 in the Grotto Commons Hallway to begin the month’s festivities.

Arte Hispano began at 11 a.m. and went on until 4 p.m.

During this event, students were able to observe a pop-up gallery of Hispanic art, poems, lyrics and the stories behind the art.

Some paintings that were seen at the gallery were Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the Mexican War of Independence by José Clemente Orozco, Manifestation

by Antonio Berni and even Persistence of Memory by Salvador

Dali.

It is always interesting to see the influence of people from different cultures, how they express themselves and how they view the world.

“It is important to highlight all cultures that are represented on Mercyhurst’s campus and in the world in general,” said Jessica Hubert, Mercyhurst’s Multicultural and Inclusion coordinator.

“The total population of Hispanic folks in the U.S. is about 60.5 million and is continuing to grow. That’s a significant amount of people living around us, and we need to learn about their history and customs just the same as they learn about the dominant culture’s (White) history and customs,” said Hubert.

Arte Hispano also featured poems like “AmeRican” by Tato Laviera, “The Sad Mother” by

Gabriela Mistral and “I Do Not Love You Except Because I Love You” by Pablo Neruda, a Chilean poet-diplomat who met Gabriela Mistral when he was only twelve.

The photos and names of many Hispanic artists, poets and lyricists were the final part of the exhibit.

The exhibit highlighted their personal histories and how each of them got started with their careers.

Arte Hispano was the kick-off event for National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations on campus, but other events are happening throughout the month.

There will be a “Lo Que Paso, Paso” party on Sept. 29 and a movie showing of “In The Heights” on Oct. 8.

“I’m especially excited for the ‘Lo Que Paso, Paso’ party happening on Sept. 29 from 12 - 2p.m. in the Great Room,” Hubert said.

“Along with some delicious Hispanic food, the Dance Department is bringing a fantastic Flamenco dancer, Alice Blumenfeld, who is going to teach two flamenco lessons (sign-ups can be found in the @hurstcampuslife Instagram bio).

There is also another opportunity to learn to Bomba dance in the Taylor Little Theater on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.”

The “In The Heights” film showing will be at 6 p.m. in Zurn 114.

The movie was directed by Jon M. Chu, the screenplay was written by Quiara Alegría Hudes and the music and lyrics were written

by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“In The Heights” is based on a book of the same title written

by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quiara Alegría Hudes and Jeremy McCarter.

It is so important that Mercyhurst celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month in the hopes that we are able to represent those of different cultures who are present at our school.

Make sure to take advantage of these cultural events to fully appreciate Hispanic culture!

Contributed Photo

Pictures of the Arte Hispano event in the Grotto Commons Hallway celebrating the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Contributed photo

A poster for The Hate U Give featuring Amandla Stenberg who plays Starr.

Hurst Hot Takes: The Hate U Give (2018)

By Gillian Mazur

Editor-in-Chief

Released in theaters in 2018, “The Hate U Give” is an American drama film co-produced and directed by George Tilman Jr. from a screenplay by Audrey Wells.

Based on the 2017 YA novel by Angie Thomas, the main character, Starr Carter, deals with the tragedy of having her childhood best friend, Khalil, wrongly shot by a police officer right in front of her after he mistakes a hairbrush for a gun.

A 16-year-old black girl, Starr and her family live in Garden Heights, a poor and predominantly black community; this is starkly contrasted by the fact that she and her siblings attend Williamson Prep, a private school situated in an affluent, predominantly white neighborhood.

With a 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and a 7.5/10 on IMDb, both critics and movie-goers alike felt the strong and extremely moving performances by all members of the cast.

The film was also nominated for a 2019 BET Award for Best Movie.

Cinematically, the movie was extremely realistic and portrayed the realities of many people of color (PoC) living in America today.

Whether it be the extremely life like protest scene near the end of the movie or more subtle hints to portray the polar opposite situations found in Starr’s life, the film mas-

terfully captures what many PoC have to deal with.

For instance, Williamson Prep’s school colors are blue and white, and the relating scenes are lit with cool blue tones giving the scenes an almost cold, unwelcoming and unfamiliar feel.

In contrast, Starr’s family home in Garden Heights is furnished and lit with warm hues of orange and red giving it a comforting and welcoming feel to both Starr and the audience.

Throughout the movie, Starr battles internally with what she feels are two different sides of herself that she displays to others to fit into her two different worlds.

“When I’m at home, I can’t be too Williamson [Prep].

When I’m here, I can’t be too Garden Heights,” says Starr.

She feels that she has to compartmentalize herself into two distinct personalities that can’t coexist.

As the movie progresses, Starr also learns the power of her own voice and how she can become a “star” to others, a beacon of hope.

Named after the stars for bringing her father hope in a very dark time in his life, Starr’s name is both figurative and literal.

Figuratively, Starr lights up the darkness of America’s blatant and subtle racism; literally, upon realizing her ability to use her voice as a weapon, she acts as a leader for others to follow.

She illuminates the police brutality within her neighboring communities through her bravery and courage to stand

up and do the right thing.

By the end of the movie, Starr learns that she can no longer separate her two different identities and must live true to herself and whom she loves and cares about.

She learns to stop tolerating the microaggressions from her ex-friend Hailey and learns that there is power in her words and actions to change the injustices surrounding her.

Although no form of entertainment can truly replace how it is to live in America as a PoC, specifically as a black American, “The Hate U Give” can help to provide a deeper insight into the experiences and emotions of living in today’s society and culture.

“The Hate U Give” can currently be streamed for free on Hulu as well as rented or bought on Amazon’s Prime Video platform.

Be sure to check in next issue to discover a new show, movie, or album that our staff loves!

Cummings Art Gallery Reopens

By Annie Markel Contributing Writer

Art is all around Mercyhurst Campus if you only look. The stain glass windows of Christ the King Chapel, the iron work of the signature Mercyhurst gates or even student art around different campus buildings.

One very special room where some incredible art is gathered into one place is the Cummings Art Gallery in Zurn Hall. This modern gallery is full of art that has been brought to the campus to be seen by students, faculty, alumni and the public.

The Cummings Art Gallery was founded by Sister Angelica Cummings in 1926, the very same year that Mercyhurst itself was founded.

It was made to be a sanctuary for art majors and art lovers alike.

Soon, the exhibits would be recognized throughout the country and abroad. The gallery was named after the Sister of Mercy herself in 1984 and has continued to grow

ever since.

The gallery offers students, alumni and faculty a platform to showcase their art pieces. However, the chance to display one’s work actually goes beyond the Mercyhurst gates.

Regional and national artists also send their work to our campus to be displayed.

Some of the artists this semester hold special ties to Mercyhurst and/or are incredible people that deserve much recognition.

This year is a major catch-up for the gallery.

In the Spring of 2020, the gallery was shut down due to Covid-19. Then in the Fall of 2020, it was closed to accommodate music lessons that required social distancing.

This may not seem like a big deal; however, it certainly was to the artists that missed an opportunity for exposure.

Students that were promised to show their art were unable to do so. This is a long-standing tradition in the Art Department, so

you can assume how disappointed the students were when they heard they would not be recognized for their hard work.

However, this fall semester, the gallery is making a big comeback.

The exhibit for 2021 is centered around the year that was lost to the pandemic.

The exhibit “Highlights from The Year That Was Missed”, will be on view Thursday, Sept. 9 through Tuesday, Nov. 30. This exhibit focuses on some alumni that showed their work at the Erie Art Museum this summer.

The Erie Art Museum understood the impact of the loss on both the graduates and the community. That is why, in 2021, they partnered with western Pennsylvania universities to bring this exhibition, “The Year that was Missed”, to the Erie Art Museum.

From May 8 to Aug. 21, fifteen artists from the classes of 2020 and 2021 were welcomed to show their theses in the Erie Art Museum’s Custom House.

At the close of the exhibit in the

Custom House, the Cummings For more information, contact Art Gallery invited MU alumni to the Cummings Art Gallery Direcre-install their work here at Mer- tor, Jessica Stadtmueller. Hope to cyhurst like promised. see you there!

Nine of the fifteen alumni accepted the invitation and have brought part or all of their artwork to the Cummings Art Gallery to campus for the fall semester.

Supporters came to help students and alumni in celebrating their work with an opening reception on Thursday, Sept. 9, from 5-7 pm in the Cummings Art Gallery in Zurn Hall.

The featured alumni are Kim Bennett, Laura Fredericks, Evan Hartono, Kaitlyn Kirchmeir, Kathleen Kiska, Hannah McCall, Matthew Mellish, Alexis Nader and Eric Olson. See if you can match the art to the alum!

The Cummings Gallery will continue to be open through the fall semester. Gallery hours for the fall semester are Mondays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesdays through Fridays, 12p.m. to 4p.m.

However, the gallery is closed Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD Advising Day is coming up.

Student reflection on 9/11: 20 years later

By Bella Lee

Staff writer

BAD It is supposed to rain a lot this week.

HAPPY Fall is approaching!

The Merciad STUDENT EDITORS Gillian Mazur ........................... Editor in Chief Samantha Weber ................ Managing Editor Ashley Barletta ............................News Editor Victoria McGinty .................... Features Editor Sydney Dietz ..............................Sports Editor Emma Coppolo ............................. A&E Editor Zach Dumais ........................... Opinion Editor Libby Bullinger ..............................Copy Editor Kristian Biega......................................Advisor Steph Przepiora ...................................Advisor Contact editors at merciad@mercyhurst.edu

The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110.

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor.

All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit.

Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters via email at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

I was only 8 months old the day that America stood still.

My mom was preparing to take me to go apple picking with my aunt and cousins when she received a phone call from my grandmother.

My grandmother frantically told my mom that a plane had just hit the Twin Towers and that she needed to turn on the TV. My mom said it was probably just a small biplane and it was a mere accident, but my grandmother insisted that it was much worse. My mom finally turned on the TV, and the moment she did, the second plane hit.

When my mom heard that a plane also crashed into the Pentagon, she went into a full-blown panic. At the time, my dad was working in Washington D.C., only a few blocks away from the Pentagon. She tried calling him, but the phone lines

were overloaded. Finally, hours later, my dad was able to get through to my mom, telling her that D.C. was being evacuated, but he had secured a ride home.

You know how Dec. 7, 1941, the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed and launched the United States into World War II, was dubbed “a day that will live in infamy?” Sept. 11, 2001 is this generation’s day that will live in infamy.

While I was just a baby when these events all occurred, my family continues to tell me this story every year the anniversary of this fateful day passes. It helps both me and my family to never forget what happened that day.

However, now more than ever, we need to make sure that this day is not forgotten. We have an entire generation of schoolchildren who weren’t alive when 9/11 occurred. We have students starting college this year who weren’t alive when 9/11 occurred. We even have children being born to parents who weren’t

alive when 9/11 occurred.

While I was too young to remember this day, I had my opportunities of learning.

The summer after I graduated high school, my dad took me on a trip to New York City as a graduation gift. We went to see the 9/11 Memorial, and my dad pointed at one name, and I could tell he was struggling to hold back his emotions. It showed a woman’s name followed by “and her unborn child.”

There were at least three names like this sprinkled throughout the memorial.

With all of the hate, the pain and the suffering going on in the world, we must remain diligent in teaching future generations about 9/11. Because everyone can share a common feeling of grief on this day. Because people can come together and share their stories. And most importantly, because as the saying goes, “those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Taxes on 1% should be increased Many billionaires kept their wealth and accumulated

By Abby Eyler more wealth, seen through Staff writer buyouts of other companies and expanding companies as a whole. Giants of wealth such as Mark Zuckerberg and Corporations have seen years Jeff Bezos have accumulated of low tax rates in order to wealth with a low tax-rate and encourage economic growth have not spent that money to within the United States. With benefit the country. this mindset, the taxes on the Zuckerberg has been 1% have also been low when charged by the FCC with compared to the tax rates of creating a social media the rest of the United States. monopoly through the buyA standard of Reagan’s out of companies such as trickle-down economics was Instagram and WhatsApp, to not tax the rich as much. and using user data to feature The expectation was that the targeted ads and giving away money that the 1% did not personal information of users. pay in taxes would re-circulate These two ideas have shown into the economy through how the 1%, those in charge large purchases from national of large corporations, are going companies, and that they to spend their money in ways would keep most of their that only benefit themselves business in the United States. and not the consumer. Since However, the expectations the money also has not reof Reagan’s economic ideals circulated into the United failed.

States economy, it affects

those who rely on the United States Government for Social Security, Civil Servant Pensions, Welfare programs such as SNAP and other programs. It also affects those who do not heavily rely on the government since corporations are allowed to inflate prices and violate laws in place to protect consumers.

Without tax increases, the government shows that they prioritize the accumulation of wealth over the people of the United States. Billionaires have proven to use money against the common good when accumulated beyond need, which has adversely affected the majority of the United States.

Therefore, taxes should be raised on the 1% to encourage economic growth and provide money for the government programs used to help those who live deprived of basic needs.

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad, or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are welcome and can be emailed to merciad@mercyhurst.edu

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

OPINION

PAGE 13

Senior year Hurst Day experience

Day scavenger hunt is that one does not really need to

By Gillian Mazur “know” Mercyhurst beyond Editor in Chief the buildings in order to make it to the final round. All a team truly needs to win is fast people and one semi-fast, yet Food, fun, and sprinting knowledgeable, Ambassador. students oh my! For the first Once the scavenger hunt time in what seems like years, ended, all students headed to the Mercyhurst community the middle of campus for fun, got to celebrate Hurst Day food and games with their once again. Celebrating friends.

Out of all of my Hurst what should have been my Days, this was one of the most fourth Hurst Day was my crowded I’ve ever experienced. third and final Hurst Day With nice weather and experience. Both freshmen one of the most populated and sophomores alike got to Hurst Days in a while, the experience what the “hype about Hurst Day” is all about. lines were just as long for As in the past, the day began most inflatables with some taking over 30 minutes for a with the annual Mercyhurst1-minute experience. One of themed scavenger hunt. In contrast to previous years, this the returning inflatables was the giant stair tower. While year seemed to have so many I did not partake in this more teams, 140 groups of four to be exact. The clues this inflatable this Hurst Day, I did my freshman year. I have since year for the scavenger hunt also been skydiving, but I have were also easier than in the to say that this inflatable is ten past with the first round of times scarier then freefalling clues only consisting of word from a plane. I was willing to scrambles of the different give this ride another go but buildings around campus. did not get to it in time before With only a ten-minute it was shut down. break from sprinting the first The food booth themes round, groups who made it were cute with Nintendo’s to the second round got more Animal Crossing, Pac-Man, complex clues in short poem Donkey Kong and Super format and had to run around Mario themes, and some to four different locations and students including myself take a group selfie. While my even got to take balloons and group didn’t make it beyond other themed decorations the second round due to all home. I personally loved the the running, the third and Mac and Cheese from the final trivia round only took Donkey Kong booth as it the top three groups. went perfectly with the PacOne of my grievances Man cookie. While the food when it comes to the Hurst

HURST STUDENTS

SPEAK UP

this Hurst Day was good compared to previous years, I just wish it lasted longer than 2 p.m.

The food booths shut down by 2 p.m.,three hours before the annual steak dinner. A better situation would be for the school or Parkhurst to announce the predicted hours of operation for the food booths so students can plan their day better and not go back home hungry.

In all honesty, I was not planning on attending the steak dinner this year as I don’t really like steak nor did I want to spend the Dining Dollars on it.

With some persuasion from my friend, I actually did attend this year’s dinner in the Grotto Commons and was pleasantly surprised when I tried a bite of my friend’s steak. Freshman year I gave it a try, but was disappointed to my surprise, the bite of steak was actually pretty good.

Overall, I would have to say that while this Hurst Day was pretty good, there is definitely room for improvement.

My hope is that in the future, Dr. Getz and whoever else plans the day will take students suggestions into account whlie still honoring the Hurst Day traditions of the past.

We asked: What is your favorite fall activity?

Coop LeGuard, senior Intelligence Studies major: “My favorite thing to do in the Fall is either hunting, taking hikes in the woods to look at the changing leaves, or going to corn mazes/Port Farms located in Waterford.”

Alexis Lovewell, senior Intelligence Studies and Cyber Security major: “I love to watch spooky movies and haunted things!”

Lexi Odrobina, sophomore Undecided major: “My favorite fall activities are going on haunted hay rides, picking apples, and carving pumpkins.”

Victoria Darling, junior Accounting and Finance major: “A few of my favorite activities are apple picking and getting apple cider donuts (specifically from upstate New York).”

Compiled by RayLynn Chraston

States and mask mandates/bans

virus. Wearing a mask is the best way to stop the potential spread and will even protect Staff Writer kids from getting other illnesses like the common cold. I don’t understand why anyone would Over the past year and a half, want to be sick, and if there’s a we have all adjusted to a “new way to prevent it, why not just normal” due to COVID, and do it? masks have been a big topic for Even with the vaccine, people discussion. During the 2020can still get COVID. I know 2021 school year, masks were many people who are fully required by almost all schools vaccinated but recently got sick Kindergarten through 12th with the Delta Variant, so I grade. This year, five republican can only imagine unvaccinated led states are not allowing people are at an even higher schools to have a mask mandate risk. Even if most children have for children. Florida, Oklahoma, less severe COVID symptoms South Carolina, Tennessee and than adults, not all children Utah all have a mask mandate are the same. Kids who are ban. immunocompromised can be at In my opinion, this is very a higher risk for complications dangerous. Whether people and long-term effects of the want to believe it or not, virus. This is why masks are the COVID cases are rising again, best option for children when it especially with the Delta comes to protecting themselves Variant spreading so quickly. against COVID. Half of school aged children I know that these states think are unprotected from the that it should be a personal

By Mackenzie Zent

choice to wear a mask, but that is honestly just selfish thinking. Why would you not want to keep other people safe from getting a virus that could potentially kill them? I will never understand how after seeing people dying (children included) from this virus over the past year and a half, people could just look the other way and not want to help stop the spread. It honestly just makes me sad that people are unable to think about anyone but themselves.

There are also so many problems going on in this country and making sure kids don’t wear masks to school should not have been the top priority. In my opinion, this speaks volumes on their values and what they deem to be important.

From everything I have seen, kids don’t mind wearing masks.

My younger siblings are in middle and high school, and not many students have had issues wearing them in their schools. I also think that a mask

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can act as a cute accessory, especially for kids. There are all kinds of fun patterns and different Disney character masks that make them fun for kids to wear.

States should not be able to stop schools from requiring masks. In the grand scheme of things, wearing a mask does not impact learning. It can only help kids, not hurt them.

Twitter: @TheMerciad Instagram: @mumerciad Facebook: The Merciad

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SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Volleyball opens newly renovated MAC

By Samantha Weber Managing editor

The Mercyhurst Women’s volleyball team competed in the PSAC/Mountain East Crossover this past weekend. The Lakers played the West Virginia Wesleyan College Bobcats on Friday, Sept. 17, and the David & Elkins College Senators on Saturday, Sept. 18. The Lakers also had another game this past Saturday against the Shepherd University Rams.

The Lakers were coming off of a 3-5 record in their previous tournaments of the year, Ram Fest and the Cavalier Invitational.

They were also the first team to be able to utilize the newly renovated Mercyhurst Athletic Center (MAC). The MAC has been under renovation for only five months and the renovation cost about three million dollars.

In their first match against the Bobcats, the Lakers were able to sweep their opponents in three sets.

The Lakers dominated the first set as the final score was 25-15.

Their hitting percentage was .520, which is well above what is considered to be a good hitting percentage in volleyball.

The second set was similar to the first as the Lakers beat the Bobcats 25-18. The third set was a little different as the Bobcats held the lead at 17-15, but the Lakers

made a comeback and eventually won the third set with a final score of 25-22.

The standout players in this game were Beth Brady, Hailey Wilson, and Madison Kasper who got 12, seven, and six kills respectively. On defense, sophomore Maggie Thomas and Kasper each recorded two blocks during the match and Brady had seven digs while senior libero, Hannah Vuylsteke, had six.

At the end of the game, the Lakers’ hitting percentage was .333, which is still a great percentage.

In their second match of the weekend, the Lakers fell 2-3 to the Senators. The first two sets were very close yet the Senators came out on top as the final scores were 25-20 and 25-23 respectively. The Lakers came back and had a pretty easy third set as they held the Senators to a low score of 2512. The Lakers also won a very close fourth set 25-23 pushing the game into a fifth set. The fifth set was also a close one, but the Senators were able to defeat the Lakers again with a score of 15-13.

Brady, Kasper, and Wilson all had a great game with respect to kills as they had 22, 14 and 11, respectively. Thomas was an asset at the net as she had five blocks, which is her new career high.

In their third and final match of the weekend, the Lakers fell to the Rams once again in five sets. The Rams won the opening set 25-

Hurst Athletics photo

The Mercyhurst Women’s volleyball team took on the West Virginia Wesleyan College Bobcats and the David & Elkins College Senators this weekend.

21, but the Lakers came back and won the second set 25-23.

Mercyhurst lost the third set 25-9 but came back strong as they won the fourth set 27-25 pushing the game into a fifth set. The Lakers were down 14-8 at one point but had a four-point comeback to make it 14-12. However, the Rams were able to score one more point to make the final score 1512.

Kasper and Brady had another

great game offensively with 15 and 10 kills each and redshirt senior, Chase Cole, had 10 kills as well.

Isa McCaffrey and Vuylsteke each had 19 digs to help the Lakers offensively. Senior, Zoe Gadomski had eight aces in one match.

Ryan Patton, head coach for the Lakers, talked about what the team did well in their games over the weekend.

“From really all of our middle hitters, we saw what an effective

quick attack adds to our game.

We’ll encourage them and our setters to find ways to make it a more consistent option. Our depth at middle hitter is an asset this team has,” said Patton.

The Lakers will be back in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center this Friday, Sept. 24 at 7:05 p.m. for Homecoming Weekend.

Women’s soccer ties against rival Gannon Knights

By Zach Dumais Opinion editor

The Mercyhurst Lakers traveled a short distance for their away game on Wednesday, Sept. 15 against hometown rival, the Gannon University Golden Knights.

The match was an exciting one and in spectacular rivalry fashion, it ended in a 0-0 tie. Despite the tie, the Lakers played very well on defense.

Sophomore goalkeeper, Maddie Elbro, made 10 saves throughout the match with 3 in the first half.

Mercyhurst was unfortunately unable to generate much offense in the first half as they only had 1 off-target shot in the entire half.

The Golden Knights, in comparison, were able to put up seven shots with three being on goal.

The Lakers got out to a better start in the second half when freshman forward, Karah Van Horn, took a shot in the 69th minute.

The shot was initially saved by the Golden Knight goalkeeper, but it bounced and Van Horn was able to corral it. She then had a second opportunity from inside the box but couldn’t quite get the bounce she wanted as it went off the crossbar.

Hurst Athletics photo

Sophomore goalkeeper, Maddie Elbro, makes a save during Wednesday’s game.

In the 80th minute, Van Horn put another shot on goal but this one was also unable to fall as it was saved by the Golden Knight goalkeeper.

The second half was much more balanced compared to the first in terms of shot distribution. The Golden Knights had six shots with five being on goal. The Lakers had ten shots in the second half with

four being on goal. The regulation period ended in a 0-0 tie despite each team’s various opportunities.

The first 10-minute overtime period ended with no change in the match.

Sophomore forward, Emily Mijares, was able to get past a Golden Knight defender in the second 10-minute overtime period. She did have a great shot on goal, but

the Gannon goalkeeper was barely able to tip it in order to make the save.

The Lakers corner kick that came after also almost went in and the opposing goalkeeper once again had to make the save. These events occurred in the 105th minute and neither team was able to break the tie in the remaining five minutes.

The end result was a 0-0 tie after 110 total minutes of play.

“The rivalry between Mercyhurst and Gannon made it a hard battle, but I am proud of my team for how hard we fought. It was a great feeling coming out with a clean sheet because as a team we deserved it,” said Elbro.

The rivalry match did get a bit chippy given how physical the match turned out to be. There were 33 fouls between both teams and the Golden Knights even received three yellow cards. There were four total corner kicks and the Lakers had three of them but they were unable to capitalize on the opportunities.

Mercyhurst finished the night with 13 total shots and six of them were on goal.

In their next game, the Lakers traveled to play Slippery Rock University on Sept. 18 and brought back a 1-0 win. The singular goal was scored by Mijares around the 18 minute mark.

The next home game for the Lakers will be played Sept. 22 at the Mercyhurst Soccer Field.

The women are set to play against the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown at 4 p.m.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

SPORTS

PAGE 15

Men’s soccer wins against Shepherd

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

On Sept. 15, the Mercyhurst Men’s soccer team traveled to West Virgina to play against Shepherd University for a 1:00 p.m. game.

This game was worth the five hour drive for the Lakers, as it ended up being the best game of the season so far.

Mercyhurst won the game with a score of 6-0. This is the second game in a row that the men’s soccer team has won.

“We were playing well as a team, and we knew more goals were coming,” said junior midfielder, Salvador Rang.

The scoring for Mercyhurst started 11 minutes into the game when sophomore forward, Thomas Binkowski, scored a goal on Shepard, with an assist from Rang. Not only did Rang assist on Binkowski’s goal, but he also assisted on a second goal passing the ball to sophomore midfielder/ forward, Axel Aronsson. Aronsson scored a goal in the 23rd minute of the game.

The scoring was not over, in the 30th minute of the game, sophomore midfielder, Dylan Summer scored, which resulted in a score

of 3-0 in the Lakers favor. This goal was assisted by freshman midfielder, Darragh Curtin.

The Lakers were up by three goals going into halftime. This lead shows how hard the Lakers have been practicing and allowed the team to go into the second half with confidence.

At the start of the second half, Rang achieved his third assist of the game. Rang assisted the ball to freshman defender, Nic MÜnch, who scored the fourth goal for the Lakers at 1:47 into the second half.

“As a midfielder, giving assists is one of the best feelings there is, and it is part of your job to help the team,” Rang said. “I felt really good after the third assist, also because it came from a corner, which is something we have been practicing a lot.”

Mercyhurst proceeded to increase their lead after halftime by adding three more goals before the final whistle.

“It was nice to see us scoring many goals, but what was especially important was that so many different people scored during this game. A lot of guys made the game sheet for the first time,” said Rang.

Hurst Athletics photo

Junior midfielder Salvador Rang runs after the soccer ball getting ready to make a play.

Sean Kerriigan was able to kick the ball past the goalie and into the net, along with grad student and forward, Nevado Elliott. This brought the score to 6-0, which meant a win for the Lakers.

“I hope we can grow confidence from this game and take that into our next games. The PSAC is starting soon as well, and it would mentally help us if we can go into that with as many wins as possi-

ble,” said Rang.

“I am very excited to play our next game. We have to show that we can keep winning, we just tied our overall, so we have to win the next games, otherwise these last wins meant nothing.”

Overall Mercyhurst took control of this game resulting in 29 shots, 20 on goal, while also taking a 10-0 advantage on corner kicks. Meanwhile, Shepard had

Second loss for Mercyhurst football

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

On Saturday, Sept. 19, the Mercyhurst football team took on East Stroudsburg. The game was played away at Eiler-Martin Stadium at 1:05 p.m.

The Lakers unfortunately could not pull out a win and lost with an ending score of 7-17. This will be the Lakers second loss in a row, after winning their first game of the season.

Assistant Head Coach, Ryan Riemedio, said that the team will not prepare differently despite the loss.

“No, we will continue to work on the fundamentals of the game and concentrate on what we need to do.”

The East Stroudsburg Warriors

put points on the board first with 5:25 left in the first quarter. Warrior Gunner Anglovich had a 13play, 91-yard drive with a two yard touchdown. This play brought the score to 0-7 in the Warrior’s favor.

East Stroudsburg added more points onto the board by scoring a field goal with 12:20 left in the second quarter. The scoring did not stop for the Warriors. They got an eight-yard touchdown, making the score 0-17.

With the Lakers having a scoreless first half, they needed to come out and score as many points as possible. The Lakers were able to put points on the board when junior quarterback, Michael Lowery, passed the ball to sophomore wide receiver, Cameron Barmore.

This pass led to a 20-yard touchdown, which brought the score to

7-17.

The Lakers unfortunately could not find any more opportunities to score resulting in a final score of 7-17 and a win for the Warriors.

However, the Lakers defense had a shutout in the second half.

“I am happy with the overall performance of the defense. We gave up some cheap points at the end of the half but made the corrections and shut ESU out in the second half,” said Riemedio.

Mercyhurst redshirt senior and defenseman, Jacob Holl, had nine tackles and junior linebacker, Dakari Washington, had eight stops.

At the end of the game, Lowery ended the game 16-of-32 for 155 yards and a touchdown. The Lakers grad student and leading rusher, Chawntez Moss finished with 40 yards and 11 carries.

The Mercyhurst football team will face IUP Saturday Sept. 25, at 1:00 p.m. for an exciting Homecoming weekend.

“It’s always special when the alumni come back for homecoming especially as we celebrate our 40th year of football” said Riemedio.

The football game is free for all students as well as alumni with registration.

“It always brings extra energy to practice and the game because the team understands how important homecoming is year to year.”

In addition to the game, there will also be a Football 40th Anniversary Celebration and dinner in the tents north of Saxon Stadium.

The cost for this event is $50 per person.

two off target shots. This is the first time the men’s soccer team has scored six goals since Oct. 5, 2019, against Pitt Johnstown.

The Lakers will next play Wednesday Sept. 29, at 12:00 p.m. against Seton Hill University in Greensburgh, Pennsylvania.

There will be a live stream of the game for those who cannot attend in person to support the Lakers.

LET’S GO, LAKERS!

Sept. 25, Erie, PA @ 1:00 p.m.: Football vs IUP

Sept. 26, Erie, PA @ 12:00 p.m.: Field hockey vs East Stroudsburg Sept. 29, Greensburg, PA @ 12:00 p.m.: Men’s Soccer vs Seton Hill University

Hurst Athletics photo

Linebacker Jacob Holl runs during a play.

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You’ve been working hard to get things done. Now take a breather and recheck your next step. You might want to make some changes in view of the news that comes your way.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You’ll soon have a chance to take a big step up from where you are to where you want to be. Check it out first.

Remember: Even the Mountain Sheep looks before it leaps.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This week brings a challenge that could determine the future direction of your life. If you’re ready for a change, accept it with confidence. A loved one supports your decision.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A disruption creates a delay in completing your projects. Use this time to pursue a personal matter you were too busy to deal with before. You’ll find it will be time well spent.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You still need to be on the alert for any signs of problems that could create serious misunderstandings. A more positive aspect begins to emerge toward the week’s end. Be patient.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) With things slowing down a bit this week, it would be a good time for luxury-loving Leonines to go somewhere for some well-earned pampering. Things liven up around Friday.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Single Virgos looking for partners are finally getting a break from Venus, who has moved in to make things happen. Attached Virgos see their relationships blossom.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) The watchword for savvy Scorpios this week is “preparation.”

Consider sharpening your skills to make the most of the new opportunity you’re about to take on.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) There might still be some loose ends that need tucking up if you hope to get that important relationship repaired. A new spurt of activity starts soon.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) It’s a good idea to keep the positive momentum going by finding and getting rid of anything that could cause you to stumble. Keep the path ahead clear and open.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A period of contemplation is advised before you make your next move. Be sure that where you decide to go is the right place for you. A health matter needs attention.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) That new energy surge that hit you last week continues to send out good vibrations. Try investing a part of it in creating something noteworthy on the job.

BORN THIS WEEK: You like to balance your personal universe, and in doing so, you help bring harmony into the lives of the rest of us. © 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by the Martian